Short Stories Wanted for National Writing Contest This Fall

9/26/2018

Contact:
Jennifer Lane
|

(316) 261-8500| jelane@wichita.gov

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Libraries bring literature to unexpected spaces

The Wichita Public Library (WPL) and the Public Library Association (PLA) are seeking proprietary short stories for a National Writing Contest taking place this fall. Writers of all levels of experience are encouraged to enter.

The theme of this year's contest is courage, a universal topic and an attribute essential for the act of writing itself. Courage enables characters to confront their fears; persist; and overcome obstacles, both literal and abstract. Some acts of courage can be grand-scale and heroic, others quietly inspirational. No matter how noticeable, acts of courage defy expectations and show how we can do things we never imagined ourselves capable of before.

A qualified jury consisting of writers, librarians, and literary experts will select one eligible winner that will receive $1,000 in prize money, as well as two Honorable Mentions that will receive $500, and the chance to have their story distributed through Short Édition's Short Story Dispensers. The Dispensers can be found nationwide in unexpected places like airports, train stations, shopping centers, and hospitals, and in Wichita at the Dole VA Medical Center, KU Pediatrics, and Reverie's Douglas Ave. location.

The contest is now open for submissions at https://PLA.short-edition.com. Entries will be accepted through the online submission portal through Oct. 30, 2018.

About the Wichita Public LibraryWichita Public Library provides collections and services that inform, entertain and enrich the quality of life in Wichita. For more information, visit www.wichitalibrary.org.

About the Public Library AssociationThe Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext.5PLA, or pla@ala.org.

About the John S. and James L. Knight FoundationKnight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed, and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.

About Short EditionThe French startup Short Edition was created in 2011. Since then it has published 17 00 authors, generated more than 20 million readings and has more than 200,000 subscribers on its collaborative platform (available on all types of devices). Short Edition aims to adapt literature to the modern world by combining short stories, community, and technology.

THIS IS NOT A SWEEPSTAKES. THIS IS A CONTEST OF SKILL. Contest begins on September 25, 2018 (12:00 a.m. CST) and ends on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 (11:59 p.m. CST). Only one entry per person. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Open to legal residents of the United States who have reached the age of 13. Prizes consist of monetary awards and copy of The Journal is Overdue. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received; winner will be chosen by a jury. ARV of all prizes is $2,016.99. Subject to full Official Rules [pla.short-edition.com]. Sponsor: American Library Association.